The case for the existence of hell.

Let me start off by saying this simply an idea I have from time to time, I consider it a fun existential mental game. It's likely reasons like this most of my friends think I'm macabre and dark lol. This is not reflective of reality nor is it the sum total of my position or outlook on life or the world. I consider myself a reasonably happy person and not particularly depressed so any who get that vibe please understand that its totally ok to embrace the darker emotions (sadness, loss, emptiness), a complete human feels a complete range of emotions. If you're position is everyone must be happy all the time, and can never talk about seemingly dark topics, then I pity you. I suggest if that is the case you might want to protect yourself from what's below. For everyone else, please enjoy this fun crazy idea.

I have sad tidings everyone. You are all of you dead already, and this is hell. From the pope to the children he is forcing aids upon with his madness, from your parents to your religious neighbors. From the scientists who and free thinkers who say there is no god, to the politicians who are bent on destroying the world. All of us were born into hell already. There is no salvation, there is no happy ending for any of us, simply the delusions of those desperate to escape the punishment they've already earned. And the acceptance of those of us willing to embrace the nothingness that is our fate.

Imagine a world of magic and wonder, a world of Unicorns, wise and ancient mages who can summon fireballs from their fingers, immortal super men and women who can shrug off bullets and fire lasers from their eyes. Now come back to reality, look around you as you sit in your cubicle next to people you really don't care for that much. But let’s face it you need this job so smile and pretend to love your torture. Deep down inside you know it’s true, you know you were meant for more. Some desperately search for power and magic, praying to the gods in their head, begging for the world we are denied. Forced only to experience paradise through the windows of books. Clearly, you are in hell. What redemption is there from hell? our only possible salvation is to embrace the nothingness to be found in our death, no one will save any of us and deep down even the pope knows this.

Isn't this a more reasonable conclusion to draw on from reality than the idea that this is somehow a "test." After all what kind of sadist would test those he supposedly loves by tormenting them, giving them minds and emotions capable of so much, then giving them a world so restrictive and unfulfilling. Surely all the suffering in the world, if there is a god means we must then already be in hell. It's no wonder god never speaks to us for real, only through the delusional imaginings of the damned, our fellow prisoners. He's too busy in the real world with magic and wonder, leading them to paradise and adding to our torment by allowing us to glimpse that world through books and movies.

To me this silly story is just as valid as any religious belief out there. Which is to say they are clearly all bullshit, but I defy anyone to challenge me on this. Let’s see a Christian make a case that they aren't already sinners in hell. I would enjoy seeing this.

Agreed Gwen, though many people claim that forceful subjugation is needed to make sure that good people exist. I propose that when forced no good exists. Only through free desire to benefit others does good become genuine. Only then does good mean anything or matter.

OK Bengee, not really as dark as it first appeared it would be! Life is life. A Time to be born, a time to die... oops just got into bible talk! Michael is very right i have done extensive study of hell. Our general Christian idea of it began far before Christianity. It did have many very radical changes with Gnostic, Hellenistic, Egyptian, but mostly Pauline thinking. What most people don't know is that our modern concept of hell is actually very recent. The most significant works were Dantes inferno in the fourteenth century and Paradise Lost written in the 17 century. The bible says almost nothing at all about hell. When the words that were put into the mouth of Jesus were written, He spoke of Gehenna. Gehenna was the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem that was constantly on fire. That was the fiery pit he was speaking of. Really im a nerd that studies this stuff. So if a modern Christian was to go back in time to about say 0 to 1200 and speak about Hell they could not even carry a conversation due to the great difference in ideas of what Hell is. By the way, I must this one time disagree with you very strongly. Hell is dealing with a theist society when you know better! Thank you for the post!

Ah yes, but according to the Buybull there is nobody in hell at the current time. Hell is a place that has evolved through Christian history. Originally "hell" was the grave. Hellfire came out of ideas of the trash that burned constantly outside the city walls. Then believers had Jesus talking of burning in hell like that trash, and hell became a place for the devil and eternal punishment. This evolved after the time of Jesus and comes into the "hell belief" that we have today.

Many think that the devil is in hell right now and he is the ruler of hell, but the Buybull says he "goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." How can he both do this and be in hell at the same time? In the middle ages the church used hell and purgatory as a means of getting money. You can be "prayed out" for a price. (This concept makes as much sense to me as a resurrected Jesus)

Finally we get to where we are today with the ever increasing fear of death and desire for eternal consciousness. Once the body waited in the grave for resurrection. Today if you are a fundamentalist you die and are instantly in heaven or hell. This happens even though there has not been a final judgement and won't be until god declares one. Then you get judged and go back to your place again.

This idea of things is not totally accurate but it does show how much a modern believer fears death and it shows me that fear is increasing.

I like that talk. Here is an old debate on the application of thermodynamics of the Biblical talk of heaven and hell. It has one part that says that heaven is hotter and another that says that heaven isn't as hot as hell but is still a very hot area: